I think Kobe Bryant has a new shot to mix into the lexicon of the basketballs greatest most unblockable shots. There was Kareem’s Sky Hook and Jordan’s fade away now is it Kobe’s Moonball? Before one starts to scream at their computer and ask what the hell is going on and why on earth are we getting another Kobe/Jordan comparison here please hear me out. Because there is none, 2 different players at 2 different times.

I have watched every Lakers basketball game like it was a Religious obligation since 1995. And since then I have rewatched all the games in the 80’s and 70’s that I have missed thanks to ESPN Classic and NBA TV. After watching the last several games here I truly do believe there is something going on that no one has noticed or have just haven’t put a name to it yet. Well here it is Kobe’s Moonball.

Kobe’s Moonball is a shot I think he created over the summer while on the Olympic team. In the NBA finals and before that if you put a larger small forward on Kobe stayed in front of him and face guarded him you could hold him to the low 40s or even a middle 30s shooting percentage. Like Jordan when he realized he was getting old and the League wasn’t letting him hook defenders with his arm anymore he had to come up with a new shot in his repertoire, but something that became his formally and that is the fadeaway. Kobe’s Moonball was the same thing he was tired of being able to be guarded again and new that he needed a shot even the much taller Guards could handle. Also notice this year his shooting percentage has gone way up averaging a career high 47.5 %. Let me show you some examples.

Cleveland vs. Lakers first game this season. Fast forward to the 1:40 mark. Kobe recognizes he has James on the dribble rolls into the corner but when he shoots he can’t just shoot a fade away like Jordan does (he can’t Jordan was taller and slightly longer than him.) Plus Lebron is several inches taller than him so what does he do he shoots a high arcing fade away that can’t be face guarded or blocked. Everyone marveled at the amazing shot but didn’t quite realize what he had started.

Where does Kobe get this shot? I think is from Chris Paul’s high arcing runners in the lane while he played with him over the summer but Kobe put 2 and 2 together. He asked himself that if he could shoot a ridiculous high arcer from the outside with a fadeaway the taller larger defenders wouldn’t be able to face guard him or block the shot. Kobe toyed with it over the summer. As one listens to all the interviews about Kobe’s gym ratness and the compliments he got from his teammates. For something that was supposed to be a showcase about Lebronze it quickly became the Kobe show. Phil Jackson has always stated that it is unfair for Kobe to be compared to Jordan because Jordan was naturally taller and longer than Kobe and so that the court becomes a little smaller and the hoop a little wider for taller players.

Against New York, Toronto, Boston (4 minute mark) and Cleveland notice the same thing. This shot is absolute genius. So now I think we should name it after the only player in the league that can shoot it. Kobe’s Moonball.

Remember folks please don’t player hate, recognize the player who created this thing into our Basketball lexicon please send your hate mail here. And don’t forget about here. But remember you can deny it but it is true he is the best player of his generation.

As this is a little to serious of a post for my own liking let me end it with a funny quote for you:

“One of the great things about books is, sometimes there are some fantastic pictures.”-George W. Bush 1/3/200

Thanks George I always appreciated the pathetic humor you brought to our lives.

Good post, good read. I'm amazed at people who call it a lucky shot. I'm like, did you folks not watch the first meeting between these two teams earlier in the season at Staples? Kobe did it there too, and just as good, if not better.